Center for Peace Studies And Violence Prevention: News

Upcoming Events:

• 3/26 - 27, 2010 The CPSVP and the Students for Non-Violence will be participating in the 3rd International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education in Cleveland, Ohio. Visit the CRE web site for more information.
• 12/10 - 11/2009 Representatives from the CPSVP will be meeting with Eastern Mennonite University and the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C., to continue work on designing the Peacebuilding and Development Program.
• Ongoing - 9/22/2009 Hokie Spirit Garden Trail working group invites faculty, staff input
  For the past three years, several within the university community have been diligently working on a very special project known as the Hokie Spirit Garden Trail. The working group invites your input. Please take a few moments from your busy schedules to answer a few questions to help us direct the completion of the project! Visit this page for more information and please follow the links to participate in the surveys.

Past Events:

• 10/26/2009 - 10/27/2009 The Center of Peace Studies and Violence Prevention (CPSVP) hosted a two-day workshop of  a consortium of six institutions, Virginia Tech, Eastern Mennonite University, United States Institute of Peace, Legacy International, Peacework International, and the Conflict Resolution Center in Roanoke to discuss development of a postgraduate certificate in Transformative Leadership.  Discussion included: mission and scope of the program, curriculum content and strategies for its implementation (including forms of delivery), and other relevant topics.  The workshop was be held at Virginia Tech on October 26 and 27, 2009. For more information please contact jenowak@vt.edu.
• 9/22/2009 - 10/27/2009 Pat Bevan is conducted a course in Non-Violent Communication (pdf) through the Blacksburg YMCA Open University, on six Tuesdays from 9/22 – 10/27, 7:00 – 8:30 PM. See the YMCA web site for more information. The course will be taught again in 2010.
• 10/15/2009 -10/16/2009 The Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention (CPSVP), and its affiliated Students for Non-Violence (SNV) club, organized a two-day workshop, on October 15 and 16, 2009,  on the development of an effective student support network as related to campus safety.
  The development of the student support network will be initially facilitated by the CPSVP& SNV. Later on we hope that it will become a cross-university and community undertaking.
  In the process of creation of a safe campus the SNV and the CPSVP have been promoting students' participation in the development and implementation of campus safety protocols, including formation of a student support network, and student/community collaboration, as linked to awareness, identification of early symptoms of distress, violence prevention, and post traumatic recovery and healing process. As an initial step of this undertaking we are planning to organize a 2-day workshop with Dr. James Kenny from the Fairleigh Dickinson University on October 15 and 16, 2009. The workshop included a public seminar and a sequence of meetings with various groups and campus and student organizations.
  Please contact Jerzy Nowak (jenowak@vt.edu) if you wish to get involved.
  See our Library page for articles by Dr. Kenny.
  Download the flyer for the October 15, 7 pm public workshop "Stronger than we think: Self-empowering Skills That Reduce the Risk of Violence."
  Download Dr. Kenny's presentation (PDF)
• 10/9/2009 The CPSVP & Engineering, Science & Mechanics were pleased to host the opening reception for the first show in our jointly hosted art gallery in the Norris second floor hallway. The reception was in 205 Norris from 2 - 4pm and was open to the general public. For more information visit our Gallery web page and download the flyer (PDF) and event announcement. (PDF).
  See Channel 10 WSLS's interview with the artist.
• 9/8/2009 - 10/10/2009 Primal States and Portals: Sculpture by Kurt Steger, Perspective Gallery at Virginia Tech.
  Reception: September 11, 5 - 7PM.
  Burden Boat Project Ceremony October 4, 2:30 at the gallery.
  The CPSVP encouraged all interested parties to participate in the Burden Boat Project; visit the gallery or email the artist with written burdens that were burned in the ceremony on 10/4. For more information, download the Burden Boat Invitation (PDF)
  See photos from the Burden Boat burning ceremony and an interview with the artist.
• 9/24/2009 The Students for Non-Violence club hosted a free viewing of the ABC 20/20 Film, "If I Only Had a Gun" and panel discussion at 7:00 pm, in Haymarket Theater in Squires Student Center. Download Flyer (PDF)
  See WSLS Channel 10's coverage of the event here.
• 9/3/2009 The Students for Non-Violence club hosted an open house at 7:30 pm, Thursday September 3, in 205 Norris Hall. Download flyer. WSLS Channel 10 covered the event.
• 7/10/09 The CPSVP director & affiliates visited Legacy International's "Global Youth Village" summer program in Bedford, VA.
• 5/4/2009 The CPSVP sponsored a seminar by Bob Gross of On Earth Peace, "Transforming Violence: Powerful Peacemaking." (Flyer PDF)
• 4/28/2009 The CPSVP and Students for Non-Violence cosponsored a workshop on Non-Violent Communication (announcement).
• 4/16/2009 There was considerable news coverage of Virginia Tech's commemorative April 16 events, and the Center's move to the newly opened Norris Hall. Dr. Nowak and the Students for Non-Violence club gave presentations for the families of the victims, and an open house was held for the general public. (Dr. Nowak's presentation, 3MB PDF) (Students' presentation, 1MB PDF)
  See this page for links to many related news items, videos, and image galleries.
• 4/15/2009 The Students for Nonviolence Club co-sponsored Greg Mortenson's visit to campus and held a fundraising event, "Pennies for Peace." See Collegiate Times article, Mortenson speaks on peace.
• 4/14/2009 A love of language that lives on, Virginia Tech news item
• 4/13/2009 Center for Peace relocates to Norris Hall, Collegiate Times
• 4/12/2009 Kristina Anderson, president of Students for Non-Violence, is featured in the Roanoke Times
• 4/10/2009 Virginia: Site of ’07 Mass Shooting Reopens for a Peace Studies Center, New York Times
• 4/10/2009 Norris Hall reopens, Collegiate Times
• 4/9/2009 Students for Non-Violence invites you to follow the club on Twitter
• 4/3/2009 Norris Hall second floor to re-open April 10 Virginia Tech news
• 3/5/2009 - 3/6/2009 NATIONAL STUDENT SAFETY SUMMIT, 2009, NYC. Dr. Nowak served as as keynote speaker and chaired the summit. He gave three presentations and facilitated a panel discussion on "Helping Communities to Heal and Recover." Program (PDF format) Registration form (PDF) Dr. Nowak's Presentations (6MB PDF)
• 2/26/09 University announces April 16 plans Collegiate Times article
• 2/11/2009 Peace Center sponsors student club article in Va Tech's Collegiate Times
• 2/6/2009 "Through the Heart of Darkness toward Healing" (PDF) published in the newsletter of the Richmond Peace Education Center
• 1/26/2009 Virginia Tech news item published "Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention to launch affiliated student club and cosponsor student research symposium."
• 1/22/2009 CPSVP director, staff, students and colleagues visited Eastern Mennonite University to learn about their peacebuilding programs and explore possible collaboration. The visit was covered in a news item here.
• 1/8/2009 CPSVP director, staff, students and colleagues attended "Passing the Baton," a remarkable full-day public US Institute of Peace conference that convened high-level, bipartisan US foreign policy leaders to speak on crucial foreign policy and security issues facing the Obama administration as it transitions into power. Archives available here.
• 11/2008 The CPSVP hosted a visit from Legacy International, a non-profit educational and training organization which focuses on peacebuilding and conflict resolution, leadership development, democracy and civic education, and community and regional development
• 10/2008 The CPSCP hosted a visit from the United States Insitute of Peace. See article, USIP Assists Virginia Tech in Peace Center Effort, and visit the entry on the Workshops and Seminars page for presentations.
• 05/2008 Nowak named director of Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention (VT Press Release)
• 05/2008 Building Consensus: The future of Norris Hall (16 Blocks Magazine)
• 05/2008 Professor to head new peace center at Va. Tech (USA Today)
• 04/2008 Norris Hall to house Center for Peace Studies (Collegiate Times)
• 12/2007 Va. Tech's Norris Hall To House Peace Center (Washington Post)
• 12/2007 President Steger accepts recommendations of Norris Hall Task Force (VT Press Release)